Taoiseach launches Offaly Special Olympics fundraising drive

It was a good news story all around as Taoiseach Brian Cowen launched the Offaly 2009 Special Olympics Fundraising Drive last Monday night in the Tullamore Court Hotel. It"s five years since Ireland had the honour of being the first country outside of the US to host the Special Olympics World Games and it was the greatest voluntary endeavour seen nationwide. 'We in Tullamore were very proud of the achievement of Dessie Gonoude, our gold medallist that year,' said Mr Cowen. 'Here in Offaly, nearly half of those with an intellectual disability participate in Special Olympics. I am particularly pleased to know that, since December 2005, the number of athletes taking part in Special Olympics sport in the county in one of the five Special Olympics clubs, has increased by over 400%.' The Taoiseach said that changing lives is what Special Olympics is all about, but that it provides athletes with far more than the physical benefits of sport. 'Special Olympics is about fun, friendships and team spirit, it"s about a feeling of belonging, and ultimately, improving people"s quality of life. Through sport, athletes develop both physically and emotionally, they make new friends, realise their dreams, and know they can fit in, Special Olympics enables them to achieve and win, not only in sport, but in life,' added Mr Cowen. Special Olympics is critically dependent on fundraising as 68% of its annual budget comes from special events and fundraising campaigns like the one just launched in Tullamore. Mr Cowen urged people to get behind the local events that are organised over the next few months. The aim is to raise €5 million overall, including €1 million on the All Ireland Collection Day on April 24. 'I would encourage people to take part in fundraising wherever they can. You could host a table quiz, organise a barn dance, hold a raffle at work, nominate a granny for the inaugural Granny of the Year contest, volunteer to collect on the All Ireland Collection Day or join the Special Olympics Supporters Club. And if you"re not in a position to become directly engaged in fundraising, please give as generously as you can,' he said. Last year, Special Olympics Ireland received over €2.8 million as its core funding, along with an additional €59,000 under the Women in Sport Initiative from the Government. Mr Cowen also gave his best wishes to Claire Grehan, the Sports Inclusion Disability Officer who works with Rehab Care, National Learning Network, Down Syndrome Ireland and Irish Wheelchair Sport to increase the involvement of people with a disability in sport. The Taoiseach also paid tribute to Mary Davis, the former CEO of Special Olympics Ireland and her successor as CEO, Matt English. 'Heartfelt thanks are due to the thousands of volunteers and supporters, the fundraisers and all those who give generously to this cause. I would like to take this opportunity to applaud your commitment to your community and to the organisation and I hope that efforts to involve more volunteers in the development of community based clubs will be successful,' finished Mr Cowen.